Conestoga will compete in its third straight Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) final after defeating Central Bucks East, 14-4, today at Harriton.

The Pioneers (24-1), the defending state champs, will face St. Joseph’s Prep in the title game Saturday at HersheyPark Stadium at 3 p.m. St. Joe’s Prep defeated Mt. Lebanon, 15-5, in the other semifinal.

Central Bucks East, which fell to Conestoga in the District 1 final as well, finished its season at 22-3.

Conestoga bolted to a 4-0 lead after one period and 8-0 at halftime before CB East’s Parker Self (two goals) and Ryan Whitney (one goal, one assist) scored to make it 8-2. But the Pioneers scored three consecutive goals – by Kyle Morrison, Billy Flatley and Connor Frisina – in a 58-second span while a man up as East took five straight penalties.

Frisina finished with two goals and four assists while Flatley had two goals and two assists. Charlie Hildebrand and Tanner Scott each had two goals and one assist and Morrison scored twice. Also, Tyler Brooke, Jordan Klunder, Bradlee Lord and defenseman Jamie Ikeda each scored once.

“Coming off the bench you have make sure you are helping out to stay on the field,” said Hildebrand.”To me it was riding… it was the key for coming out strong.

“We were up 8-0 in the beginning. After the first quarter Coach (Brian) Samson kept us motivated to go out and finish the second quarter strong. That was key to the win.”

CB East’s standout was Sean Reilly, who won 17 of 19 face-offs.

“Going into the season, we knew we could make it this far and possibly further,” said CB East senior defenseman Weston French. “The main thing we wanted to show everyone was that we could play with the best teams in the state and country. Getting this far proves that. Obviously the result didn’t show that today, but on any other day the score could be different.”

Samson credited his midfield play as a key.

“I was pleased with the effort,” Samson said. “It was two good teams playing hard. I have to give credit to our two middies, Tanner Scott and Billy Flatley. They really got us going early, dictating the pace in the middle of the field

“Those guys don’t get their names in the scoring columns as much but they are so important to our team. They were the reason we were able jump up on them early. Brian Dailey (LSM) also was a key in the middle.”

In last year’s state final, the Pioneers defeated La Salle, 10-6, avenging an 7-3 loss to the Explorers the year before.

Conestoga and St. Joseph’s Prep met in the season’s first game. the Pioneers claimed a 12-9 triumph in a game that went back-and-forth until the end.